Waste Management, Inc. is the largest integrated solid-waste services provider in North America, not an ETF, so its price outlook is primarily shaped by sell-side analyst price targets. The stock carries a broadly favorable "Moderate Buy" or "Buy" consensus, with roughly 21 to 28 analysts covering it depending on the data provider. S&P Global's aggregation shows an average one-year price target near $253, while TipRanks reports an average near $255, with a full target range spanning from about $220 to as high as $277 in some tabulations.
Because that average sits only about 7% above the latest closing price, it does not provide a meaningful "reach" question on its own. For that reason, the $265 central target used here is drawn from public market commentary rather than a computed analyst consensus. TheStreet's research commentary lifted its objective on WM to $265 from $255 after the company's second-quarter 2026 results, citing margin gains, pricing strength, and accelerating free cash flow.
For context, individual targets reviewed recently include $232 at BMO Capital, $244 at RBC Capital and CIBC, $245 at Scotiabank, $259 at Citi, $263 at Oppenheimer, $268 at Wells Fargo, and $270 at Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and Bernstein. The wide gap between cautious Hold-rated targets near $232–$245 and bullish targets near $263–$270 reflects genuine disagreement over whether WM's premium valuation and modest revenue growth justify further multiple expansion.
WM last closed at $239.38 on October 23, 2026, near the upper portion of a 52-week range of roughly $194 to $248. Reaching $265 would require an advance of about 10.7% from that level, a modest move by equity-market standards. The shares carry a beta of roughly 0.4, meaning they tend to be less volatile than the broader market, so a 10%-plus move would likely need to be driven by fundamentals rather than broad index momentum.
The path would most plausibly run through continued margin expansion and earnings beats. The company's adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) is expected to grow faster than revenue, and management has reaffirmed a 2027 adjusted operating EBITDA target of $8.15 billion to $8.25 billion. With a trailing P/E (price-to-earnings ratio) near 34, however, much of that operating momentum already appears reflected in the valuation.
WM's 52-week high near $248 stands as the first meaningful resistance zone; a sustained move through that prior high would be a technical prerequisite for extending toward $265. Below the market, the $223–$228 area and the mid-$210s have acted as support zones in recent months, while the $194–$197 region marks the lower end of the yearly range. The stock's low beta and steady, range-bound character mean the path toward $265 is likely to be gradual rather than a sharp repricing.
Analyst price targets typically reflect a roughly 12-month research horizon, and the $265 objective carries a similar forward-looking character. The next confirmed catalyst is the company's third-quarter 2026 earnings report, scheduled for October 27, 2026 after the market close. Investors should watch reported volume trends, adjusted EBITDA margins, free cash flow, and any update to full-year guidance, as well as subsequent analyst target revisions and commentary on the Healthcare Solutions integration and buyback pace. Macroeconomic data affecting commercial and industrial waste volumes also merit attention.
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The question of whether Waste Management can reach $265 rests on a target drawn from public market commentary rather than a formal analyst consensus, because the average of current analyst targets—near $255—is only about 7% above the latest price. Reaching $265 would require a modest advance of roughly 11%, and the bull case is built on margin expansion, strong free cash flow, renewed buybacks, and a successful healthcare integration. Against that stand a premium valuation, soft volumes, and top-line growth that remains in the low single digits. With targets spanning from about $232 to $270, the Street itself is divided on how much upside remains, and the upcoming earnings report will be the clearest near-term test of the path toward the target.
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A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, WM has been closely correlated with RSG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 82% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if WM jumps, then RSG could also see price increases.